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MEET the woman who lost six-and-a-half stone in just ten months thanks to calorie deficit meal-prepping and with NO gym visits whatsoever.
Charlotte Deniz, 37, an administrator from Blackpool, had struggled with her weight all her life and after every fad diet she tried had failed.
Charlotte Deniz went from a size 18-20 to a six six to eight in 10 months[/caption]
Charlotte in one of her old pairs of trousers showing how much she has lost[/caption]
Charlotte believes meal prepping is the secret to losing weight and saving money[/caption]
Charlotte stopped weighing herself when the scales read 16 stone 7lbs, and she reached rock bottom when she was picking out an outfit for a work Christmas party.
She said: “I’ve always struggled with my weight from my late teens which I feel caused me to always be quite shy and reserved as a person.
“I had a lack of understanding of nutrition, calorie contents, and the vicious binge or restrict cycle trying to overcome my lifelong struggles with my weight through desperation.
“I suffered with awful depression as a result of low confidence and self-esteem, to the point I would turn down invites to go out and socialise with my friends as I just didn’t feel good about myself.
“The turning point for me was Christmas time 2016, I refused to go to my work Christmas as I just broke down in tears when trying to find a nice outfit to wear.
“I felt awful in all that I tried on and just couldn’t face feeling uncomfortable all night.
“It’s that very night I sat and realised I was leaving the house less and less through lack of confidence and embarrassment.
“I knew enough-was-enough. I’d already missed out on so many occasions and opportunities because of this, that I knew I had to stop.”
The turning point
Charlotte met her partner the following January and he introduced herself to the concept of eating on a calorie deficit, and the importance of regular meals.
She continued: “He had previously also lost a big amount of weight by doing this himself, so it gave me hope that I too could give this a try for myself.
“Having already tried every other fad diet going, and eventually failing at them all, I was willing to try anything.
“It got to the point I was living off one meal a day through desperation and as a last ditch attempt to finally lose some weight.”
Charlotte before and after
Before
- 16 stone 7lbs
- Six 18-20
After
- 10 stone 2lbs
- Six six to eight
Weight loss concept
Charlotte explained how eating in a calorie deficit works.
She said: “First step is to calculate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) to find your own calorie deficit tailored to you, don’t just guess.
“Then make a realistic plan that you can stick to.
“To calculate your TDEE I would recommend using an online calculator, they are free to use and tailor your calories to you personally as it takes into account age, height, weight, and activity levels.
“It gives you your maintenance calories, to stay as you are, then a good, healthy and realistic deficit is 500 calories less.
“So for example my calorie requirement for when I was 16st 7lbs was 2,182 calories to maintain that weight.
“So to lose weight I created a deficit of 500 calories taking me to 1,681 calories per-day to lose a steady and realistic one or two pounds per week.”
Huge results
Charlotte lost over six stone with that method in just 10 months, and she is now 10 stone 2lbs and is a confident and happier person.
Charlotte went from a size 18-20 to a healthy size 8-10, she has maintained her weight loss for five years by meal-prepping.
She said: “I lost all my weight never stepping foot inside a gym. I lost it purely through calorie deficit alone and meal prepping to keep me on track and focused.
“Meal prepping helps keep you focused and on track. It aids with portion control and building healthier habits.
“I found having my meals all calorie counted and pre-prepared helped keep me focused and gain some control over my eating habits, as I knew exactly what was in them, and it helped me learn to cook better.
“I have slashed my weekly or monthly food shopping bills in half if not more by meal prepping, and I spend a lot less on takeaways by making my own healthier fakeaway versions.”
Weighing 10 stone 2lbs, she claims she would need 2,000 calories to maintain that diet, so if she creates a meal plan of 1,777 calories then she can expect to lose one pound in per week.
Meal plan for maintaining her weight
Breakfast : Chocolate baked oat muffins (300 calories)
Lunch : Pizza pasta salad (550 calories)
Dinner : Hoisin glazed beef and noodles (600 calories)
Snacks : Greek yogurt and berries (310 calories)
Protein Pudding (160 calories)
Low Calorie Crisps (78 calories).
Total: 1,998 calories
Diverse meals
Charlotte ensures she has balance of everything in her meal-prepped dishes.
She will pick different carb sources for example potato for one meal, rice for another meal, then maybe pasta for the third.
She will then do the same for protein, for example, chicken for one meal, salmon for another, then maybe beef, or even a vegetable option like chickpeas.
Then she adds good fats and vegetables, again picking variety so the meals are different, this keeps it enjoyable and not repetitive eating the same thing everyday.
Charlotte added: “Don’t cut things out or restrict yourself.
“Before meal prepping my diet was pretty terrible, breakfast: nothing, lunch: nothing, dinner was takeaway, or microwave meal, I would snacks on crisps, chocolate, sugary drinks and so no exercise at all.
“Now thanks to meal prepping it is much better.
“For breakfast my favourite is chocolate baked oat muffins, lunch usually a pizza pasta salad for dinner I love hoisin glazed beef and noodles.
“I still snack, just now I will pick up low calorie crisps, opt for greek yogurt and berries, protein pudding or fruit as a sweet fix.
“I also go to the gym three days-a-week now.”
Her favourite cheap dish
Charlotte said one of her favourite meal preps is curry as they are “so flavoursome” even days after preparing.
She added: “You can straight away save yourself a good £4 or so by substituting your usual beef or chicken at £5, for tinned chickpeas or butter beans at only 59p per tin for example, in just one meal.
I lost all my weight never stepping foot inside a gym. I lost it purely through calorie deficit alone and meal prepping to keep me on track and focused.
Charlotte Deniz
“I also like to scour the discounted meat sections for reductions due to nearing their sell by dates.
“I then simply just freeze this until I’m ready to use it.”
New lease of life
Charlotte said that since losing her weight she feels like she has her life back.
She said: “It’s helped me gain confidence, believe in myself and my capabilities more, and best of all to now actually enjoy living life as I should, socialising, trying new things, going new places.
“But I for sure feel a lot happier in myself, and I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. I have tons more energy, I get ill a lot less, and just feel healthier and happier in myself.
“With many noticeable benefits I hadn’t even thought about, like improvements in my skin, my hair, and my mental health.”
Charlotte before at over 16 stone[/caption]
Charlotte is now confident and happy and has kept the weight off for five years[/caption]
Charlotte said the turning point for her came as she tried to get ready for a Christmas party[/caption]
Charlotte lost the weight with diet alone but she has now added exercise to her regime to help maintain it[/caption]
Charlotte now after loosing over six stone[/caption]
Charlotte dressed up for a night out which she previously would have avoided[/caption]
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